MC Hammer Slams Police After California Arrest

MC Hammer has taken to Twitter to speak out about his arrest by California police on suspicion of obstructing an officer.

The 1990s rapper, who was later released on bail, suggested in a series of tweets that he had been the victim of racial profiling.

MC Hammer was held on Thursday evening in the car park of a shopping centre in Dublin, northern California.

Police did not specify what sparked the incident, saying the 50-year-old had been detained on suspicion of obstructing an officer in the performance of their duties and resisting an officer.

Hammer, whose hits include U Can't Touch This, tweeted over the weekend that an officer had approached him in his car and asked whether he was "on parole or probation".

He tweeted: "Chubby elvis looking dude was tapping on my car window, I rolled down the window and he said 'Are you on parole or probation?'."

The rapper said that as he handed over his ID the officer reached inside the car and tried to pull him out.

"It was comical to me until he pulled out his guns, blew his whistle and yelled for help (MallCop) !!! But make no mistake he's dangerous," Hammer said.

"I will now answer his question, contrary to his personal beliefs, all people of color are not on parole or probation fat boy !!!"

The rapper, whose real name is Stanley Burrell and is now better known as just Hammer, went on to write: "Only thing more dangerous than a scared man with a gun, is a scared man with an agenda, a gun and a badge."

US news reports quoted police as saying the rapper had become argumentative and refused to answer the officer's questions.

Hammer said he was not bitter about the incident and considered it a "teachable moment" and an "eye opener".